I replaced my second front cross beam (first cross beam cracked in a beach flip that also took out the mast) on my 2000 H17Sport this last spring and have sailed 48 times since. Winterizing the boat (I take it completely appart and store all but the hulls and mast inside) and much to my chagrin, I found a 2" crack in the starboard end of my new crossbeam (along the edge of the tramp channel). OK, I sail hard, but really, cracked after only 48 trips!!!!!! I had installed it properly and checked the bolt tightness over the course of the summer. I've asked my Hobie dealer to see if this is covered by a warranty, as it should (IMO). I'll keep you posted.

Matt, Yes, I bought both new front and rear crossbeams last April, installed them and was sailing by the end of April (usually I'm on the water at the end of March). I'll e:mail you a picture of the crack. thanks

Did they provide insight as to why they think it may have cracked? My crossbar is well out of warranty, but possibly from the same generation (one of the last built to my knowledge). Would love to see a pic if possible just to know what to look out for.

UPDATE: The cross beam is suppose to be shipped today. So now all I need to do is refurbish the bottom of my hulls (a yearly winter activity). This year I plan to leak test the hulls and figure out where the half gallon of water or so gets into each hull during a full days outing.

Here are some clickable pictures of the crack in my last 2 front cross beams. The first picture is from the old beam (5 years old) that I replaced last spring (one of many cracks in the beam, but similiar to the crack in the new beam). The second and third pictures are of the crack in the new beam (the only crack found, but one is plenty). Notice the cracks are on the bottom side so you have to remove the beam to see it.

UPDATE: New crossbeam arrived last Friday, sweet. Now I need to pull all the hardware off the cracked one and put it on the new one.

Matt - I could not find a rivet catalog# for the front beam back-up plate rivets (need 6/side). Is it the same as for the rear back-up plate (801020 1)? Does this correspond to a CCC 6-6 stainless steel rivet and mandrel, 3/16" dia x 3/8" long)? thanks

New crossbeam is hardwared and ready to go. I just finished modifying my wife's Weta trailer (we bought beach wheels for her beach dolly and I had to modify the trailer so we could attach the wheels for beach use and remove the wheels while trailering). I am now ready to resurface the bottom of my H17 hulls (from the centerboard wells back) and put the boat together. My target date for getting back on the water is Friday, March 22.